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BOARD OF (OMMISSJONFIIS ' 



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NEW JERSEY S(MJ)IERS. 




Presented in the House of Assembly, Feb. 1, 1865, and Ordered to be Printed. 



TRENTON, N. J.: 

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REPORT 



OP TJIE 



BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 



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ON 



PROVISION FOR DISABLED 



NEW JERSEY SOLDIERS. 



Presented in the House of Assembly, Feb. 1, 1865, and Ordered to be Printed. 



TEENTON, N. J.: 
rillXTED BY J. }\. FKEESE, ''STATE GAZETTE " OFFICE. 

1865. 



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REPORT 



OF THE 



BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. 



The commissioners appointed by an act of the legislature entl- 
titled "Joint Resolutions in relation to disabled soldiers," approved 
April 12th, 1864, respectfully submit the following report : 

In pursuance of the requirements of the above stated resolutions, 
the commissioners entered at once upon their duties, and opened a 
correspondence with our Ministers in France and England, with a 
view of obtainine; information concerninE: institutions havins; simi- 
lar objects in those countries, and have sought other sources of 
information, in order to secure all the light which experience could 
give. AYhile there is great dissimilarity between the people of 
those countries and our own in their habits and mode of life, and 
although the same rules and restrictions there adopted would not, 
as a rule, be adapted to a people brought up under our free insti- 
tutions, yet we can learn much from their experience. All na- 
tions agree that it is the bounden duty of a state to care for and 
protect those who, by reason of their devotion to their country, 
have become unable to maintain themselves ; and in most of the 
countries of Europe, liberal provisions have been made for this 
honored class. , 

Information derived from the Pension Bureau of the United 
States shows that since the commencement of the present war, 
there have been about 1,342 applications for pensions from dis- 
charged Xew Jersey soldiers, of whom 671, or fifty per cent., were 
admitted to pensions; 503, or thirty-seven and a half percent., 
were rejected, because the disability was not received in the line 
of duty, or existed anterior to enlistment; and 168, or twelve and 
a half per cent., were waiting additional evidence. 



4 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 

The number of New Jersey pensioners on 

June P.Oth, 1861, for the array, was 28 

June 30th, 1861, for the navy, was 2 

June 30th, 1862, for the army, was additional ... 3 

June 30th, 1862, for the navy, was none - - - _ 

June 30th, 1863, for the army, was additional - - . 84 

June 30th, 1863, for tlie navy, was additional - - . i 

June 30th, 1864, for the army, was additional ... 447 



November 30th, 1864, for the army, was - - - 105 
November oOth, 1864, for the navy, was - - . i 



505 
106 



671 
Died, re-enlisted, and gone to other states where they receive 
their pensions, fifty-two. 

^ It will be observed by the above table, that the number of pen- 
sioners is rapidily multiplying and in a greatly increased ratio: 
As in 1863, only eighty -five pensioners were added, while in 1864, 
four hundred and forty-seven were added to the roll. If the same 
number of pensioners are admitted for the year ending June 30th, 
1865, as in the last year, it will give 1,012 patients. "But should 
the increase go on in the same ratio as in the last year, the num- 
ber would then reach 2,912. Though it is not thought that the 
number will increase in this proportion, yet it is presumed that 
there Avill be an increase the present year, and perhaps the next, 
over the last, by additions from the army and Veteran Reserve 
Corps; many of whom, on their discharge, will be entitled to 
pensions; so that it is estimated that the number of Jcrseymen 
who will be entitled to pensions will not vary much from two 
thousand. 

The following shows the nature and degree of disability: 

Lost a leg or an arm, 75 

AVouudcd, 375 

Not ascertained, 22 

Disabled by disease contracted or injury received in the service, 199 



671 

The commissioners assume two thousand as the number on 
which their calculations should be based. Of this number, per- 
haps nine out of every ten have families, parents, or friends, with 
whom they would prefer to live, and who, by their labor, with the 
aid of the pensions allowed by the government, would be enabled 
to secure a comfortable support. It is therefore believed that less 
than one-tenth of the whole number would need or desire homes 
in a public institution. To provide more especially for this latter 
class, those who from the nature and extent of their disability, 
such as have lost the use of both eyes, both arms, both legs, or 



ON PROVISION FOR DISABLED N. J. SOLDIERS. O 

wlio arc otherwise woniuled or disablecl ; those avIio have been 
broken down in body bj' disease and privations while in their 
country's service, and who arc unable to care for themselves, is 
understood to be the object for which this commission was ap- 
pointed. 

The inquiry is, what provision shall be made for tliese persons? 
They are not paupers, seekino; alms at the hands of the_ govern- 
men'^t, but pensioners, entitled to compensation for services ren- 
dered. They arc not debtors to, but creditors of the public. They 
have imperiled their lives and shed their blood in the cause of 
their country, by privations, hardships, and wounds; in that cause 
have been deprived of the power of self-support, and the country 
is indebted to them to the extent, at least, of a comfortable main- 
tenance during their disability. What is needed is not an alms- 
liouse, to impress them with the sense of being tlie objects of 
charity, and to crush every feeling and hope of independence, 
but a i-ietreat, provided, as far as practicable, with the comforts and 
influences of a home, where they may realize that the republic is 
not ungrateful; and where they may enjoy the respect of their 
fellow citizens, and receive, in part, the reward due to their 
patriotism and valor. There are many reasons why this provision 
should be made in each state for its own soldiers. 

First, it is desirable that the discharged soldier should return to 
the walks of civil life, to the industrial pursuits, and to domestic 
influences. 

The association of fiimily and the society of friends, have been 
found greatly to promote the recovery of the sick and to con- 
tribute to the comfort of the disabled, and the sense of being in 
his own state, and within the reach of family and friends, has a 
similar efl'ect. 

Should Retreats be provided by the general government, patients 
must be removed to other states, and be strangers in, to them, a 
strange land. 

The well founded objections to the entertainment of a large 
number of men together can be better met by institutions in the 
several states, where the number must necessarily be limited. 
These persons need immediate relief, and that can be more 
speedily atibrded by each state. 

If afterwards the general government shall deem proper to 
assume the expense, or to make appropriations toward it, the 
state will be so far relieved of the charge. But the necessities of 
the case forbid the delay for the action of the general government. 

As the commissioners are directed "particularly to inquire 
whether a State Retreat or Home should be built," in order to carry 
out the intentions of the legislature, they have given special 
attention to this direction, and recommend, in view of the present 
and prospective wants of the wounded and invalid soldiers, that a 
State Retreat or Home be established, and that lifty or more acres 
of land, suitably located, bo purchased ; that buildings, adapted to 



6 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, ETC. 

the purpose, be erected tliereon ; and that it be furnished with all 
the conveniences necessary for such an institution. It is believed 
that the sum of fifty thousand dollars will be sufficient to pay for 
what is proposed, viz : 

Land, $5,000 

Cost of buildings, 30,000 

Furniture, 10,000 

Outbuildings, fences, tools, and contingencies, 5,000 



Total, $50,000 

If it is found that a greater number than that contemplated 
have to be provided for, the cost of enlarging the buildings so as 
to accommodate them is all the additional expense that would be 
incurred, except, perhaps, a small sum for furniture. The ground 
will be used principally for raising vegetables for the establish- 
ment and pasturage of cows. 

It is further recommended that a law be passed appointing com- 
missioners to select and purchase the land, who, so soon as the 
land is secured, shall contract for and superintend the erection of 
the buildings, provide the furniture, and make such improvements 
and purchases as are contemplated in the above named appropria- 
tion. 

With a view of encouraging those who prefer to live with their 
own families or friends, but who, by reason of the inadequacy of 
the pensions received from the government and their inability 
wholly to provide the necessary support, it is recommended that 
the institution be authorized to establish a system of out patients, 
to whom certain allowances may, from time to time, be made to- 
wards their care and maintenance. 

A law for the government of the institutiou will not be needed 
until it is ready to go into operation. 

MARCUS L. WARD, 
DANIEL HAINES, 
WILLIAM A. NEWELL, 
CHARLES S. OLDEN, 
EDWIN A. STEVENS, 

Commissioners. 



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